Combined friction and positive clutch.



A. Looms. vGOMEINLD FRIGTION AND lOSITIVE CLUTCH.

APPLIOATIOHHLEDnovum,190e; L I 1" d I' Paname@ Map2?, MMU.

` A. LOMIS.

COMBINED IRICTIONl AND POSITIVE CLUTCH.

l APPLICATION FILED NOV. I0, 1906.

9529535, Patented. Mar. 22, 1910. v A 3 SIIEITS--SHEETV 3.

'entran erledige rar-snr onirica ALLEN LOOIVIIS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN,ASSIGNOB, BY 'MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

PACKARD MOTOR CAR COMPANY, OF -I)E'IIROI'I,A MICHIGAN, A `C.ORPORATION'OF MICHIGAN.

cor/immer rnrcrron .ann rosrrrvr CLUTCH.

pecially applicable to motor vehicles comprises meansfor instantlydisconnecting a clutch of the multiple disk friction type,

thus avoidinof the usual drag due to the contl paratively slzcwdisengagement of the friction members in clutches of this type now inuse.

` The invention will be described in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in

which:

Figure 1 1s a central sectional View through a clutch embodying myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on theline 3 of Fig. 1; llig. 4 is a section on the line 4 of Fig. 1' Fig. 5is an edge View of one of the primary friction disks; Fig. 6 is acentral sectional view through another forni of clutch embodying myinvention; and Fig. 7 is a sec` tion on the line 7 of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawing, 1G indicates a driving shaft, which maybe thecrank shaft of a hydrocarbon enginefll indicates a fly wheel rigidlyconnected to the shaft, and 12 a substantially cylindrical clutch casingrigidly connected with the flyewheel. The clutch casing 12 has a seriesof internal recesses orl grooves 13, which receive the ears 14 of aseries of primary clutch disks 15, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. Coaxialwith the drivin shaft 10, is a'driven shaft 16, one

. end o which has a bearing 17 in the flywheel. The said shaft is alsosupported near the clutch by a bearing 18, these bearings being of anysuitable design. l

Loose upon the driven shaft 16 and within thc clutch casing, is a hub 19having an outer substantially cylindrical surface pro vided withlongitudinal grooves 2O adapted to receive lugs on a series of secondaryclutch disks 21, the said disks being circular speeicatim of LettersPatent. Patented Mar. 22, Application iled November 10, 1906. Serial No.342,885.

loro.

at their outer edges. The disks and 21 are concentric and arrangedalternately as shown in Fig. 1, and when pressed together the outerdisks, which are driven by the clutch casing, turn the/inner disks andthe Vhub 19. The clutch disks are sustained at 'one side by a ring 22 onthe hub 19 and at Rigidly connected with the end ofthe clutch 'casingopposite to the fly-wheel, is a cover plate 25, which has a centralcircular openin'g Afitting a cylindrical surface 26 on the clutch ring23. The joint between this cover and the ring is4 preferably packed by aring of felt or other fabric 27 arranged in a groove in the inner edgeof the cover. The

cover serves to close the clutch casing and prevent theescape of oilwith which the casing is preferably iil'led.

The outer face of the clutch ring 23 has a series of teeth orprojections 23, which are adapted to engage a similar series ofprojections or teeth 2E) upon a clutch sleeve 30, which is keyed to the.sh/aft 16 by one or more keys 31 and adapted to slide on said shaft. Aspring 32 surroumling the shaft 16 and interposed between a liked collar33 on said shaft and the clutch sleeve tends to hold the clutch members28 and 29 in engagement and to force the clutch ring 23 against thedisks and clamp the primary and secondary disks together. The spring 32has sullicient power to clanip the clutch disks together so tightly thatthey will foi-1n practically a positive clutch. The clutch sleeve 30asshown, is operated by a lever 3l fulcrumed on a fixed part of theframe, one arm of said lever engaging a yoke 35 which runs in an annulargroove 36 in the 'clutch sleeve 30. rlhe lever 34 is preferably oper-lated by a pedal when the clutch is used for transmitting power in amotor vehicle.

Then the parts of the clutch are in the position shown in Fig. `1, themotor shaft 10 is entirely free from the driven shaft 1G and the inotormay continue to run without turning the. driven shaft. ln this positionof the parts, the spring 32 is compressed by the power applied to thelever 34e. To start the. machine, the lever 3l is released,per niittingthe spring 3210 first niove the positive clutch member 29 intoengagement with the clutch memberl 28 and then press the acquire thespeed of the primary clutch disks, yafter which all of the parts runtogether and the shaft 1G is driven atthe same speed as the motor shaft10.y

My invention is especially Avaluable for in,

stantly disconnecting the driven shaft from make a quick stop.

with it the driven shaft.

the engine as is desirable in stopping an automoblle, especially inmaking emergency stops.l Thus while pressing the lever 34 forward, thepositive clutch members 28 and 29 can be instantly disconnected,therebydisconnecting the. driven shaft 1G- from the motor shaft.Thereafter the clutch disks gradually separate, being assisted inseparating by springs interposed between the lugs of the disks. Thesesprings may be integral with the lugs and form part of the same, asshown in Figs. 2 and 5, in which 37 indicates spring tongues which areformed by slitting theblugs along the lines 38 and bending the tonguesoutward. In friction clutches of the class shown, the friction disks orplates are held together by suction after being released from positivepressure and it is impossible to stop the machine quickly if thefriction clutch alone be .relied on. .By combining, however, thepositive clutch with the friction clutch, I ain enabled to start themachine without a jar and to stop it in the same manner and I am alsoenabled to disconnect the driven shaft. instantlyl from the motor if itis desirable to As it is frequently of vital importance to stop suddenlyto prevent accident, the importance of this improvement will'beappreciated.

It will be noted that the clutch ring 23 is connected to rotate with theinner or driven Abe gradually clamped together and the inner clutchmember gradually started, carrying As the full force of the spring 32 isapplied the friction clutch members will be gripped so tightly that theywill turn together andl all of the parts connected with the driving anddriven shafts will rotate as a unit.

lhe modified form of the invention illus trated in Fig. 6 is in thenature of a reversal of a number of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Referringto Figs. 6 and 7, the primary elements 40 of the friction clutch aremounted on a cylinder 41 which carries one of the annular clamping jaws41a. The other clamping jaw 42a is carried by a second cyl inder 42which is adapted to slide on and turn with the cylinder 41. The cylinderis provided on its end 43 with a series of jaws or teeth 44 which areadapted to interlock with a similar series of jaws or teeth carried bythe fly wheel 11, forming there- H with a positive clutch. Thesecomlary'eleA ments 46 of the friction clutch are arranged alternatelywith the primary elements and are connected with a cylindrical casing 47which incloses both sets of friction disks. At one end the casing 47 hasa flange 48 which fits the periphery of the cylinder 42, and at itsother end the casing 47 has a flange 4S) which is rigidly connected tothe sleeve or collar 50 which is adapted to slide on and turn with thedriven shaft 51.' The sleeve or collar 50 and the parts connectedthereto may be shifted longitudinally of the shaft by any suitablemeans, such as a footlever or pedal 52. As shown, the members of thepositive clutch 44, 45, are normally engaged and the elements of thefriction clutch are normally clamped together by a spring 53 which isinterposed between the head of the cylinder 41 and an abutment 54 whichis connected with the driving shaft 10. As shown, the rod 55 is suitablytied to the driving shaft, with freedom to turn relatively thereto, andthe abutment 54. is connectedto said rod. The spring presses the jaw 41nagainst the friction elements and moves them bodily to the left, asshown in Fig'. 6, carrying the opposing j aw 42Et to the left until theclutch teeth 44, 45 are engaged. Thej aw 42a then becomes fixed and 105the spring 53, still pressing against the ja'w 41a, clamps the frictiondisks 'securely tegether, causing the entire clutch to run as one piece.To open the clutches, the jaw 41 vand casing 47 are simultaneouslypulled to 11ol the right. rIhe casing is rigidly connected with thesleeve 50 and the jaw 4.1a is also connected toV said sleeve by means ofa rod 5G, one end of which is rigidly connected with the jaw 41 and theother end of which 115 is swiveled to the casing 47 and sleeve 50, asclearly shown in the drawing., The operation of this modified clutch isas'follows: As -shown in the drawing the spring 53 is compressed bymeans of the lever 52 suf- 120 ciently to disconnect the positive clutchmembers 44, 45. When these members are disconnected, the aw 42"L of thefriction clutch is not under the influence of force to move it in eitherdirection and hence the elements of the friction clutch are free tomove'relatively. When the lever 52 is released the casing 47, the jaws41, 42a, and their connectedparts move bodily to the left until thepositive clutch members 44, 45, are interlocked. 4Further movement tothe left is therefore prevented-and the 'spring next takes effectupon-the friction clutch,l clamp'- I thus permitted 'to stop quickly'j'tion -With a drivin ing the plates orl elementssecurely' together.

On moving the lever 52 in reverse direction, the positive clutch isinstantly 'disengagedan'd both members 'of the friction clutchare.

Having described my invention'A vvhat Iv claim and desire' to 'securebymLetters Patin the' casing, the usecondary disks mounted 20 on-saidh11b, the clutch ring 'arranged' to slideon and turn with said huband adapted togbear on the clutch disks, va -posit-ive clutch member onsaid' clutch ring, vand `a positive clutch member-on said driven'vshaftand adapted to engage with the c'lutch member onithe ring, forthefpurpose set forth.

2. In a clutch mechanism, the combination with a driving shaft and adriven 'shaft oxfla friction c lutch comprisingtwo serieso ix'iterleavedfriction d1sks, a member von` the drivlng shaft-mterlocked wlth oneseries' of said d1sks,' twome1nbers rotatably mounted on thedriven shaftand forming clamping 'i jaws forsaidfriction disks, one y'of saidmembers being inter-locked `vvith 'al series o-f said disks, and-,meansfor .positively connect ing said latter'me'mber to said driven shaft.

3. In a-cltch mechanism the combination VVwith ad'riving'shaft andva'ldrivenv shaft, of

a cylindrical 'casing connectedwiththe drivingv shafhtvvo series of.interleaved disks Within said casing, one of'said series being mountedyonv the' driven shaft and interlocked with the other seriesofsaiddisks, a membersliding on said hub and adapted to close the casing, andmeans for connecting and disconnecting said hub and the driven shaft.

4. In a clutch mechanism, the combination y vvith a driving shaft and adriven shaft, of a cylindrical casing connected to one of said shafts,'a huh loosely mounted upon the other shaft, two series ofinterleavedfriction disks, one series being in'terlor'zkedl with the casing and theother Withithe hub, a .member sliding on said hub and adapted bothtofclose the casing and to clamp the .friction Adis k s,rand a clutchmounted on the driven shaft and adapted toengage said member.

ture Vin :presence of two witnesses.'

" v ALLENLOOMIS.

Witnesses:` l

, RUSSELL '-HFF, R, H; ALLEN.

-interlocked with they casing, 'ahub loosely

